Congressman Levin Statement on Raise the Wage Act CBO Report

July 8, 2019

Press Release

A Congressional Budget Office report found that the Raise the Wage Act would increase wages for 27.3 million Americans and lift 1.3 million Americans out of poverty.

House Education and Labor Committee Vice Chair Andy Levin made this statement following the release of the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) report on the Raise the Wage Act, which would gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024:

“Today, the Congressional Budget Office made one thing absolutely clear: the benefits of the Raise the Wage Act for workers, for people in poverty, for children, and for our economy far outweigh potential downsides.

“After ten years without a minimum wage increase—the longest period of time since the minimum wage was established—too many working Americans are facing declining standards of living. With the Raise the Wage Act, we could begin to repair the damage done to working families by giving 27.3 million American workers a raise, lifting 1.3 million Americans out of poverty and restoring the value of work to the 95% of low-wage workers who would benefit.

“After the House passes this landmark legislation, the Senate must take up the Raise the Wage Act to give Americans all over the country and from all walks of life a much-needed raise.”